|
|
|
| |
Submitted by
Chris
a Downhiller
from CO, USA
Date Reviewed: December 1, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance Bicycles | | Strengths: | Unbelievably strong frame design! Enough suspension to take even the biggest hits. It's lighter than most bikes of this caliber and best of all, it's a Cannondale! | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Rocky Mountain Flow, Gemini DH, Jamis Diablo | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | This is one of the best bikes I have ever ridden. It has held up strong for the last 4 years and still take hits like a champ. It literally flys down the trails and feels incredibly stable at fast downhill speeds. If you have the chance to get one of these, dont pass it up. Great bike! A lot of bang for your buck, especially if you can pick up a used one for a good price! The best bike I've owned! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
steini sigurdsson
a Downhiller
from reykjavik
Date Reviewed: May 27, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | ulfarsfell | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1280.00 | | Purchased At: | my friend | | Strengths: | strong frame, handles well in DH and you can drop big drops on it. | | Weaknesses: | non yet... | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | rock shox boxxer ride and truvativ hussefelt crank | | Bottom Line: | this bike i great for big drop. It also handles great in DH. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
matija lelas
a Downhiller
from Slovenia
Date Reviewed: October 18, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1300.00 | | Purchased At: | at a friend | | Strengths: | All bikes of this tipe are heavy.But this is not.A fantastic geometry .I did a bunny hop of 80cm with it.You almost cannot break it | | Weaknesses: | What Weakness | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized demo 8,Santa cruz bullit | | Bike Setup: | A marzocchi 66 fork... | | Bottom Line: | Drops of 3 meters on a quite good landing are welcome | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
greg godsey
a Weekend Warrior
from kingsport tn
Date Reviewed: July 16, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | any | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2200.00 | | Purchased At: | larrys cycles | | Strengths: | i have the 2006 model 900. the frame is awesome,very light and very strong.the marzocchi 66 light is the best.hayes nines,great husselfelt crank very good.sram shifters great. | | Weaknesses: | seat post,formula hubs,iwish they would anodize the frame.the paint will scratch easy.but for the price it is a great deal...... | | Similar Products Used: | vp free,haro werks 7,kona coilair,trek 77,blur lt,bullit | | Bike Setup: | marzocchi 66 light,thomson stem and seatpost,hadley hubs,sram 990 cassette,selle marco seat,sun single track rear,mavic 325 front. | | Bottom Line: | actually the 800 dollar marzocchi sold me .this bike can freeride,crosscountry,and anything in between.it is considered a freeride but mine does not weigh but 30 pounds. this is the ultimate trail bike. go by the2006 gemini 900.you will be impressed........ | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris D.
a Weekend Warrior
from Escondido
Date Reviewed: September 18, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Daley Ranch | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | Bullet Proof, can actually climb okay, great suspension system.
| | Weaknesses: | none yet! | | Similar Products Used: | Santa Cruz Billet | | Bike Setup: | All new XT drivetrain and shifters, Thompson Elite post, crank bros. Mallet M, selle itallia gelle seat. | | Bottom Line: | This bike is great, I bought it for a steal off ebay from a guy who literally didn’t ride it. It was all but brand new. I must say the travel on this bike is great for a 240lber like me. I don’t take crazy drops like some of you guys, but I consistently am taking 4’ to 5’ hits and this thing just takes it, over and over again. I mostly use it for shuttle rides, but occasionally (if my prophet is in the shop) I have taken out on some all-mountain rides and this thing can actually climb pretty well. I must say the geometry works well for brief uphills, (it is not for all-day cross country riding). Bottom-line, great bike, great value….. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Terrence
a Downhiller
from BFE New Mexico
Date Reviewed: August 18, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | none around here | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | Superblow | | Strengths: | Still longevity | | Weaknesses: | Customer Service | | Similar Products Used: | lots | | Bike Setup: | OK....03 super t, Romic, diabolus stem, race face bars, mag brakes | | Bottom Line: | Ok, I have had this bike for a while now, I still ride the hell out of it. I have moved since my last review and don't ride as much here because I don't have the access to trails. I still hunt for nasty urban type freeride to keep my skills sharp. That being said I have now pretty much made the hubs on this rig snivel and the rear bearings on the swing arm are toast. I contacted Cannondale about the parts only to find out that they won't warranty any parts to a consumer. You HAVE to go through a dealer. I live like 240 miles from the nearest dealer. That sucks. If you can't take care of customers then don't offer a warranty. I also needed a derailleur hanger and went to a bike shop in Las Cruces, NM that tried to charge me 75.00 for a hanger. I told Cannondale about it and.... I got the shrug off. Screw that. Beware these things if you buy from Cannondale. I guess no product is perfect. As for the bike, I did have some play in the rear swingarm due to the pivot bolt being too long. I contacted Cannondale who told me to go to a dealer to have it dealt with. (Yeah right) So, it being 1mm too long and not having a machine shop within 100 miles of me that could do this type of work, I just measured out 1mm on the bolt, marked it with a sharpie marker and ground it ( I didn't have access to a lathe or mill) until the markings were gone. Worked like a charm....swingarm is very tight and rigid again. The cranks are finally giving out. I have taken 5 and 6 foot flat landings on these cranks alot and they have finally had enough. Pretty amazing for cranks that weigh like 640 grams. Gonna try some Holzfellers. A couple of months ago while back on a trail in AZ I noticed some brake jack. This was on a really steep incline with water bars on it. After I hit the water bar and launched I had to hit the brakes to set up for a switch back. That is when I noticed the jack. Hmmmmm.....FSR type pivot never did this to me. Cannondale says they don't offer a floating brake for my year of Gemini and wouldn't sell it to me if they did. GRRRRRR......up your ass then. Brake therapy offers a floating brake, but will run you about 300 or so bones. Add that to cranks and wheels retail and I might as well buy a new bike. I have mixed feelings about this bike now. It is a good bike, but if the makers are going to treat their customers like that, I don't think I can ride it anymore. I get sick just looking at the bike now. So, guess I will be moving on. It was a great bike, I really had a lot of fun on it, part of me really wants to keep it....BUT......you know the deal. If you live close to a dealer buy one and have fun. If you don't, go with the Ma and Pop type shop. (Cove, Banshee, Canfield Bros, etc) because they will take care of you no matter what. When you pay umpteen dollars for a bike, you should get service no matter where you are or what your circumstances are. Buhbye Cannondale. Nice knowing ya. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
b rad
a Downhiller
from pequop navada
Date Reviewed: July 2, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | trails with lots of gaps, rocks and drop offs | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | some shop in arisona cozzen hocked me up | | Strengths: | over shooting landings on20 foot gap jumps and riding away as if I just bumped of a curve sweeeet ride | | Weaknesses: | after sherching for mouths I finaly gave up. | | Similar Products Used: | kona products | | Bike Setup: | factory | | Bottom Line: | this is not your moms china this beast will take you up or down any thing.after i purchased this dream machin I am constantly pushing the limits an it has never let me down. Before I purched the cannondal gemini i did not like cannondale but this is the lightest strongest most perfect designed ever. after taking my first ride on this bike cannondale is right at the top again ya dog | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan
a Downhiller
from Sudbury Massachusetts, USA
Date Reviewed: April 28, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Angel Street. Loon Mtn. | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | Ebay | | Strengths: | This bike is the best I have ever riden. I may only be 13, but I no bikes. The frame is suprisinly light for a soft tail, and the Manitou Fork is amazing. The Fox Vallina died on me though. I was just trying a 8-10ft drop, and it just snapped or somthing. I upgraded that to a Manitou 4 way swinger($500) WELL WORTH IT. also, i upgraded the crank to a raceface. And i changed the discs to 81/2 inch. This bike is amazing, defenitly the best out there | | Weaknesses: | Fox vanilla rear shock
Stock Discs
Stock Wheels | | Similar Products Used: | Big Hit
Rockhopper (sick hardtail, but nothing campared to this)
Eudro | | Bike Setup: | Stock handlebars. Stock Haynes front brake. Differant back brake. . .its hydrolic but i forget the name of it. 81/2 discs. Swinger 4 way rear shock. | | Bottom Line: | This is the best bike i have ever raced. its sooo sick | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Derrick Bilodeau
a Racer
from Vermont
Date Reviewed: April 26, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Mutton Hill | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Used | | Strengths: | I am writing this review on an 02 1000 because mtbr does not have that bike listed.
Single pivot is very plush. the frame is VERY VERY light. Geometry feels good. bb is high. | | Weaknesses: | The fox shock i got with the frame died. Bushing die out quick but thats common with a single pivot. | | Similar Products Used: | Big hit, p1, bruiser, Raleigh ram | | Bike Setup: | 02 gemini 1000
03 boxxer team
Hussefelt cranks with 38th fsa dh ring and e13 guide
Hayes Hydro 8inch
Blue Worldforce bars
5th element 5way
Bombshell rear wheel
321 front on dmn hub
Deore derailure with road cassette
sram 7.0 gripshift | | Bottom Line: | Suspesnion is very efficent. Light enough to freeride and fast enough to race dh on. I really like this bike so far. Buy this bike if you want a great freeride bike that you can race as well as ride xc on. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
capt. cannondale
a Cross Country Rider
from usa
Date Reviewed: December 25, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | wherever I may be. | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | mtb review classified | | Strengths: | love this bike,frame lefty max,bombproof ride,2 wheels on steroids!ballburnished frame looks like chrome,headturner,manycompliments | | Weaknesses: | can't find any. well maybe cable and hose routing. | | Bike Setup: | mostly stock accept for brooks saddle,grimeca brakes. | | Bottom Line: | if your looking for all around bike this is the bike,best out of box freeride.some people doen't know what to make of lefty fork,they think it's broken and i'm rideing on one fork leg.LOL I hope my review helped. HAPPY TRAILS | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Justin
a Downhiller
from Auburn, AL, USA
Date Reviewed: December 7, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$2300.00 | | Purchased At: | Cahaba Cycles | | Strengths: | Sweet looks. Good setup. Handles well. I haven't found too much i dont like about this bike. The component package is excellent for a bike of this kind. | | Weaknesses: | Too much travel for the trails of Alabama. A little heavy for x-country riding. | | Bottom Line: | I love this bike. It is a bit overkill for the trails i have around me, but it is great if you can find some stuff to huck off of. Once you dial in the rear end you feel like your riding in a caddy. I recommend this to anyone looking for a good freeriding bike with the ability to still be comfortable going uphill. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joanma Franch
a
from Catalunya
Date Reviewed: November 14, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Single track | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2200.00 | | Purchased At: | Madrid | | Strengths: | Versatile, amusing, geometry, light, Racing lock similar to Cedric Gracia (the best) | | Weaknesses: | The Tires and fork Manitou, the assembly of adhesives Siemens are deflected. | | Similar Products Used: | Bullit, Scott Nitrous, next Heckler 2005 with 150mm and VPP | | Bike Setup: | Plataform pedals, Tires Nokian Gazzaloddis 2.35, Stem Race Face Diabolus 50mm | | Bottom Line: | This bike is good for everything ,it´s amusing and light and you can use 170mm because the geometry is perfect.
the frontal height is too much and I will have to cut the tube of Sherman. The Sherman is soft and I must put the compression at top maximum. The adjustment of rebound is not effective.
I like the lock but the DH is better with more black and red lines, but I think a camouflage color similar to Kone, KTM would be better. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David Evans
a Downhiller
from Leavenworth
Date Reviewed: November 3, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | (old) Bad Gorilla | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1800.00 | | Purchased At: | Arlberg Sports | | Strengths: | The 03 came with great components. Frame is light yet durable. Color kicks arse | | Weaknesses: | In a handfull of frames built. The pivot bolt is too long. It creates play in the swingarm. I bought new hubs, crank sets, bearings, spent a tone of money, only to find out the pivot bolt was 1mm to long. Pain in the but. | | Similar Products Used: | Bullit, Stinky | | Bike Setup: | 888r, bombshell wheelset, xtr, raceface bb/cranks, raceface dadada, goodrich hoses, michi 2.5rear 2.8front, nothing stock but cog set. :) | | Bottom Line: | Great bike. I am trying to find a reason to buy a new frame, and I can't come up with any excusses. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Terrence
a Downhiller
from Chandler
Date Reviewed: July 24, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Versatility, longevity | | Weaknesses: | ???? | | Bike Setup: | Hayes Mags, Diabolus stem and seatpost, Race Face bars, Romic, and Super T | | Bottom Line: | I have had this bike for close to a year now. No problems with the frame at all. Hayes brake hoses haven't been the greatest. Have had 2 of them split on me now. I have upgraded to a Romic shock and Super T, Race Face Diaboulus stem and bars. Even though I really liked the sherman it came with, the super t is what this bike was missing. It is absolutely astonishing how good this bike rides now with the Super T and Romic. Not exactly a long legged trail bike anymore, it is a downhill and freeride hucker now. The weight still isn't too bad for what is on it and it pedals soooo much better with a romic. When downhilling, it feels like I have two flat tires sometimes. Very smooth and it handles a lot better with this set up. Usually after a year on a bike, I would be getting bored with it. This bike has let me progress and develop my riding style by providing a very versatile platform to build on. The stock setup was great for a beginning freerider and heavy duty trail, add some second hand parts (cost me under 400 for the super t and romic) and this thing is a serious freeride and downhill machine. If I ever get tired of this setup, I can turn it back into a lightweight trailbike. Bottom line is I am still happy with this bike, and I have the attention span of a gnat. You can't go wrong with the Gemini. Thanks Cannondale. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt
a Weekend Warrior
from Montclair, NJ
Date Reviewed: April 25, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1900.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | Excellent Geometry, comfortable ride, good parts selection | | Weaknesses: | none yet | | Similar Products Used: | hardtail | | Bike Setup: | Romic shock, otherwise stock | | Bottom Line: | This bike is awesome. Its light enough to ride cross country, but went I want to bound down the mountain and blunder over rocks it turns way serious. The fork may need a stiffer spring, though I use it in the shorter travel selection and it stiffens up, don't really notice the change in geometry... The Romic is great so far I've set it up right finally and I can't feel the bob, with 6" travel thats awesome!! So far I'm having a great time with this bike, it almost justifies shelling out close to 2 large for a freaking bicycle,... oh well. Any serious rider who likes to abuse their bike and do stupid things should look at the Gemini. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David Evans
a Downhiller
from Wenatchee, Washington, USA
Date Reviewed: March 27, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | The Stranger/anything withman built crap | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1.00 | | Purchased At: | Arlberg Sports | | Strengths: | Well, we can start with the frame winning a Red Bull Rampage! The Sherman is amazing, thanks to the ONEPOINTFIVE. | | Weaknesses: | For the dollors, the set up is fairly weak. Cheap seatposts, stem, rims, hubs, crankset. I might just be complaining, but alot of other makers really hook bikes up for this dollor amount. | | Similar Products Used: | Fisher, Specialized, Bullit. | | Bike Setup: | Race Face Stem & Handlbars, Thompson Seatpost, SunRingle Platforms, 2.5 Michelen DH Tires, Maxxis DH Tubes, FSA Bashring, and a nutcase jockey | | Bottom Line: | Amazing Amazing bike. If I could make the purchase again, I would buy the 03 2000 Gemini and spend the extra grand. It would be well worth it. I have allready spent a fortune, and I still don't have a DeeMax Rims and Super T, and and and. Save up a little or ask your bank for an increase in your card and get the higher end one. But, no complaints on this, if you are looking for more of a all around bike. It is a good climber, and looks sweet. Best bike I have ridin' | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Optimo
a Downhiller
from Boca Raton
Date Reviewed: February 13, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Markham park/quiet waters | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$2200.00 | | Strengths: | Durability, agility, light weight, looks if you really care | | Weaknesses: | cable routing causes rub on the frame, as mentioned in previous posts, but this is the only weekness! This bike is amazing | | Similar Products Used: | none other like it | | Bike Setup: | Gemini 900 with super T fork | | Bottom Line: | Bottom line is this bike is the best out there. The "Gracia mobile" is a bike suited for anything from cross country to dirt jumping to freeriding, it excels at all. This bike has increased my skill 10-fold and I know for sure I couldn't have gotten to where I am now with a cross country bike. Gemini baby!!!!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Terrence
a
from Chandler
Date Reviewed: January 30, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Weaknesses: | Seat post | | Bottom Line: | 4 month follow up on my Gemini. I love this bike. It has taken me some time to really learn how to use this bike to its full potential, and I am still learning. I trashed the seat post on a bombed no footer, replaced with a race face diabolus. This bike handles real well on dirt jumps, drops, and downhill. I have also made some climbs that surprised me, however I avoid long fire road climbs like the plague. The sherman's controls still don't work, but haven't needed them, yet. I took the Wtb weirwolfs off and am using IRC kujo dh 2.35's. They work really well in the dry loose topsoil and rock that I ride in. Massive sidewalls keep pinch flats at bay. The items on this bike that I thought might be sketchy (FireX cranks, deore shifters and front der., stem) are holding up great and working great. I ride fairly hard and am working on my freeride skills, and I can definately say that this bike has helped me progress. If you want a killer free ride/aggressive trail/DH bike at a price that won't kill your bank account, the Gemini won't disappoint. Buy without fear. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
seth harrison
a Downhiller
from ojai, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: January 11, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | merietta | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2300.00 | | Purchased At: | cyclescene | | Strengths: | nice components. kicka$$ suspension. | | Weaknesses: | weak springs in front and rear suspension. innertubes sucka
Shi^%& innertubes. stock springs are too weak
| | Similar Products Used: | only hardtail bikes | | Bike Setup: | fox vanilla r rear suspension, manitou sherman breakout plus. sh@!%^ innertubes | | Bottom Line: | love this bike first fullsuspension freeride bike. plenty of travel 170mm in front and back. smooth drive chain. works for both freeride and dh. nice cockpit set up. nice bike i recommend it to people interested in the sport. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
LEO
a
from SILVERTHORNE, CO, USA
Date Reviewed: December 7, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | ZIPPITY DOO-DAH, PORCUPINE RIM, TROYBUILT, | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | CHILI PEPPER BIKES, MOAB | | Strengths: | SURPRISINGLY AGILE; IT LOOKS HEAVY, BUT HANDLES WELL. I RIDE EVERYTHING MY FRIENDS DO ON FS/XC BIKE THAT WEIGH 5-10 LBS LIGHTER AND I AM ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THEM. POINT THE GEMINI DOWN AND I DON'T SEE THEM UNTIL I'M AT THE TRUCK WITH A BEER IN MY HAND. I HAVE RIDDEN BULLITS, HECKLERS, STINKYS AND THE GEMINI GIVES THE SAME OR BETTER PERFORMANCE, BUT FOR MUCH LESS MONEY. KICK ASS PAINT JOB! | | Weaknesses: | THE LOCK OUT AND DAMPENING ADJUSTMENTS ON THE FORK DON'T ALWAYS WORK. WEAK SEAT POST, GRIPS SUCK, TIRES HAVE WEAK SIDEWALLS
| | Similar Products Used: | SANTA CRUZ BULLIT, HECKLER, KONAS, RM7 | | Bike Setup: | UPGRADED SHIFTERS TO XT, SHIMANO 545 PEDDLES, INTENSE FR TIRES, ODI LOCKON GRIPS, EXTRA SET OF DOWNHILL WHEELS AND TIRES FOR RESORT RIDING | | Bottom Line: | THIS BIKE WAS INTENDED FOR FREE RIDE, BUT IS SO VERSITILE I TEND TO USE IT AS MORE OF AN AGGRESSIVE TRAIL BIKE. I RODE IT ON THE WHITE RIM THIS YEAR. (128 MILES) IT IS HEAVIER THAN MY GT I-DRIVE BY 6 LBS AND I NOTICE IT ON CLIMBS, BUT IT SO MUCH MORE FUN ON JUMPS AND DOWNHILLS. IT'S A BLAST TO TAKE ON URBAN ASSAULTS, AND DOWNHILL COURSES. THE STOCK WHELLS AREN'T BUILT FOR DOWNHILL SO FORKING OUT A LITTLE CASH IS A WORTHWHILE INVESTMENT. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mitchell
a Weekend Warrior
from Kapolei, Hawaii, USA
Date Reviewed: November 29, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | I have had this bike about 3 months and felt the need to update my previous review. This bike hasn't disappointed me in the slightest. The only changes I have done is to up the spring to a 650. Before, I had a VERY plush ride but bottomed out at the smallest drop. Now, I have a slightly rougher ride, but I am thrilled with the big hit performance. I am not a jumper or much of a freerider for that matter, but going off 3 foot drops is very nice. Makes me braver than my skills should afford.
| | Weaknesses: | None that I can see.
| | Bottom Line: | I love it, my friends love it. Gotta go riding! :-)
See Ya!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Marcus
a Downhiller
from Sweden
Date Reviewed: November 2, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Streets of Stockholm | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2700.00 | | Strengths: | Light, Long travel, great overall components especially on the -04, looks :), good comprimise between XC/DH you can use it how you see fit (Freeride) | | Weaknesses: | A bit flexy but that can be a good thing if you fancy it. The tires are no match for a pair of nokian gazzaloddi´s, uppgrade needed. I would uppgrade the rearshock to a Romic or 5th element but the vanilla does the job. | | Similar Products Used: | tested various other brands. | | Bike Setup: | -04 modell with the 170mm Manitou Sherman Breakout (it rules)
everything is stock except the pedals wich are a pair of DMR V8´s. Matte black | | Bottom Line: | This bike is a happy one. Everytime I sit down on the saddle a smile appears on my face. I´ve jumped double stairs with it dropped loading-docks and so on, and so on... and it has swallowed every bump and dropp with ease. If you buy the -04 model go with the matte black paint, the team siemens color is real ugly. Only things you need to uppgrade on this bike are pedals, tires and steem.
A pair of V8´s, gazzaloddis and a race Face Diabolus will do the trick. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Warren
a Weekend Warrior
from Jonestown PA,USA
Date Reviewed: November 1, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Horeshoe trail | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2200.00 | | Purchased At: | InGear | | Bottom Line: | This is a follow up review about my Gemini.I have have ridden this bike harder than any other bike I have owned and it has taken a hell of alot of abuse not to mention some hellish crashes!The Gemini is so versatile it is unbeliveable.I have ridden it like a cross country bike,(it climbs well something really suprising for a bike weighing 35 pounds.)single track,super technical downhill,dropoffs up to 6 feet,and beat the hell out of myself riding really large rock gardens and except for some minor scratches the bike has held up extremly well.(Alot better than my body has)this bike can do it all and for the price you cant beat it.This bike is like a 2 wheeled tank it is built to take alot of abuse.Alot of people I know think I am crazy for spending over 2000$ for a bike and then going out and getting it all scratched up they just dont understand that is what it was made to do, beridden really hard.My opinion is the scratches and nicks on it are just trail tattoos | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
tony
a Cross Country Rider
from la habra ca
Date Reviewed: October 6, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | orange cycles | | Strengths: | rigid frame no flex in the rear suspension. paint job (black)stickers are not nerdy. 1.5 head. lightweight. | | Weaknesses: | fox vanilla r. seat post. pedals | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | this review is for the 2004 model. I could not find a better deal for a freeride bike with such good components and nice frame. after riding the advanced downhill courses at snow summit the vanilla r started spouting oil. the bike felt very stiff the only lateral flexing came from the rims, but they are not dh rims. overall a good value. was considering a bullit but this bike is pretty much the same bike but much lighter and about 600 bucks cheaper. fork is plush but the travel adjuster doesnt work all the time. I would buy it again. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Terrence
a Weekend Warrior
from Chandler, AZ
Date Reviewed: September 27, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | National | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1800.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo(mistake) | | Strengths: | Adjustability, weight for the intended use and component package, and definately price. | | Weaknesses: | Had problems with the manitou's controls, hayes brakes quit working. | | Similar Products Used: | I test rode pretty much everything in this bikes class. | | Bike Setup: | except for hayes mag brakes, stock | | Bottom Line: | The second day I had this bike, the hayes hfx 9 hd levers stopped working. I took it back to supergo, and they proceded to accuse me of bleeding the brakes with mineral oil. Whatever. Anyway, bottom line with supergo is that they have the crappiest customer service. Kind of like a car dealership AFTER you have bought your car. They don't want to help you with a warranty problem or even be polite about the situation. In short, they suck and I will never spend another dime in that establishment.
I got an upgrade to the mag brakes to take care of the problem with hfx's. I don't know what happened to them, but the levers would not return out. Who knows.
Manitou fork's controls have never worked, but it is plush and the damping is right where I like it anyway. I probably will never use the 5" travel setting, but I would like it to work. I will not take it to supergo for obvious reasons. I think Manitou needs to step up and fix these crappy control problems. They should not sell a product that doesn't work. I hear their warranty dept isn't that good either.
This bike's geometry is great, it handles like a dream in just about any terrain. I ride in very rocky terrain, and it smooths it all out very nicely. I took it up to the mountains (Flagstaff) and it handled like a sports car on the downhills. This bike is a tank. It takes drops very well. I did 4 foot to flat and it soaked it up like nothing. Gets a little heavy on a long climb, but I just need to get into better shape. Cannondale did a great job on putting this package together for the price.
If you are looking for the best bang for your buck in the do it all category of bikes, look no further. Buy it and have fun. By the way, did I mention supergo sucks?
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a
from Seattle, WA
Date Reviewed: September 23, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | The ride (especially w/ a 5th Element Coil) | | Similar Products Used: | Mountain Cycle San Andreas (broke the frame twice) | | Bottom Line: | As suggested before, get rid of the Fox. I sold mine and bought a Progressive 5th Element from AEBike.com which made the ride 100% better. The 5th Element shock with the spring and both fit kits was $404.96 + shipping. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jack
a Weekend Warrior
from Forty Fort, PA
Date Reviewed: September 20, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2300.00 | | Purchased At: | Sickler's | | Strengths: | Travel, Brakes, feel | | Weaknesses: | Weight | | Similar Products Used: | Cannondale Jekyll 700LTD, Canondale Scalpel 4000 | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | Today I bought a 2004 Gemini 900. I have to say my decision was biased due to the reviews given here. My previous rides were great but they lacked that extra something to make the ride fun. The jekyll rode great as did the scalpel, but let's face it 2.5 in of travel aint gonna cut it. I'm ridin tomorrow 1.5 hrs up and .5 down (hopefully less). I'll repost tomorrow after the ride and let you know the rest | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
tom
a
from philly pa usa
Date Reviewed: September 17, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | got dirt? | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2300.00 | | Purchased At: | guys bikes | | Strengths: | everything | | Weaknesses: | cable routing | | Bottom Line: | this is a follow up from a previous reveiw. this bike is still kickin ass. but i recently made a significant upgrade.
i purchased a race face diablous 70 mm 1.5 stem. no joke! if you own this bike, buy this stem. way way more stable at speed and on drops. plus it doesnt even hurt the climbing ability.
MAKE SURE YOU GET A 5MM HEADTUBE SPACER. otherwise it wont fit because the stack height is different from stock stem. it will probably have to be special ordered from a good l.b.s. i had a little trouble finding one, because of the 1.5 steerer.
im also looking for a chainguide that i can still keep two rings. anyone with any suggestions, please hook a brother up | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
npeter again
a Downhiller
from lake tahoe
Date Reviewed: September 16, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | see my earlier posts | | Similar Products Used: | most, not all. | | Bottom Line: | i'm surprised at all the posters complaining about the cable rubbing the paint issue. i suggest you scroll down and read my post where i explain how to prevent this from happening. it's a simple and total fix. and costs you nothing to do.
also, i strongly suggest selling the fox shock asap and buying a romic. the improvement in the uphill and dowhill performance will amaze you. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bruce McJannett
a Cross Country Rider
from Brisbane Australia
Date Reviewed: September 16, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Daisy Hill | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Strengths: | Handling, stand over, finish, parts spec, nothing at all needs replacing. | | Weaknesses: | Cable routing could be better, easily fixed with stick on cable guides. | | Similar Products Used: | Spec FSR, Haro EX, Heckler, Bullit, San Andreas | | Bike Setup: | Standard except for 5th element shock, Time Control Z pedals, Rohloff bolt on Speed Hub with 8 inch disc, Odi lock-on Yeti grips, Maxxis Dynamite 2.35 tyres. | | Bottom Line: | Nil flex, high bottom bracket gets you over everything, handles very well at speed and in slow technical sections. Running a 38 tooth front ring with mrp guide which is even with the pivot point and made suspension active all the time, a little bit too bouncy. Fitting the 5th Element turned the bike into a hardtail as far as pedaling goes, no more bob at all yet fully active. Best bike I have ridden so far. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mitchell
a Racer
from Honolulu,Hawaii, USA
Date Reviewed: September 15, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Mililani, Kuliouou. Aiea Loop | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | I love the Sherman fork. Stiff and plush. Plush rear travel. Great brakes. Love that 22X34 granny. Great for getting my fat old butt up the hill. | | Weaknesses: | I notice that I get ghost shifts sometimes when I ride in undulating terrain under power. Not sure if it is a weakness or something I have to get used to, but it has a very high bottom bracket. I feel like I am soooo high.
| | Similar Products Used: | Santa Cruz Bullit, GT LTS, GT Lobo, Rocky Mountain Slayer, Santa Cruz Heckler | | Bike Setup: | Stock for now.
| | Bottom Line: | I am very pleased with this bike. We did the Mililani Perimeter yesterday and this bike shined. I was planning to get a more off brand bike but my friends told me you get what you pay for. They heard of the Gemini and were anxious to try it out. I hate to admit it, but my riding buddies aren't real Cannondale fans. They were all impressed, especially with the price. Yesterdays ride was a combo of tight single track, steep and prolonged climbs, fast swooping downhills and steep rutted drops. I noticed due to the high riding height, I had a hard time in the tight winding stuff. At speed, I had a hard time transitioning left to right to left etc... I seemed to over shoot the turns and ended up off the trail. I think its just is a function of getting used to it and getting the weight shifts timed right. Downhills are a blast. I sat down alot and the suspension really sucked up the bumps. I was very surprised at the comfort level. My LTS team frame with Z-1, can't compare. First of all, this old 1997 frame touts 4.7 inches travel in the rear, which I heard from reliable sources that it is probably just 3.5 inches, and the Z-1 feels alot more flexy than the Sherman. The same downhill section is jolting with the GT. I guess it is all relevant. I used to think my Rock Shox Mag 21 was the bomb when I added the long travel kit to it. I think that this bike will serve me very well. My main worry was climbing but I found out that the bike is a very good climber. The 22X34 gearing helped, but the bike really keeps moving uphill.
I have to give it the highest value rating because I got it at an obscenely low price from my LBS. 5 chilis for a bike that makes a mediocre rider just alittle less mediocre. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Warren Spangler
a Weekend Warrior
from Jonestown PA, USA
Date Reviewed: September 12, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | anything with alot of rocks,ruts and dropoffs! | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2200.00 | | Purchased At: | In Gear cycling and fitness | | Strengths: | this bike is still the most awesome bike for the money everything on it is top of the line or pretty damn close! | | Weaknesses: | cable routing | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 820 Cannondale F400 Raliegh M7000 | | Bike Setup: | stock so far,no need to replace anything yet | | Bottom Line: | This bike handles like a dream,I ride it cross country,blast around town riding over and jumping everything from curbs to ramping of of stairways!The Gemini really shines out on the trail,I can do bigger drops ride twice as fast over rocks and logs than I could on any of my other bikes.This bike is without a doubt the best bike I have ridden,since buying the bike my riding skills have improved greatl partly due to the awesome bike but also because it is so much fun to ride.I have ridden this bike places where I would not even dream of taking my old Raliegh,in fact the Raliegh suffered from a blown fork due to riding it beyond the bikes limits.Just remember this bike can make you a better rider but only if take the time to really learn how to handle it and know you skill level.This is the perfect bike for someone who likes to thrash and do alot jumps and drops! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Graf
a Weekend Warrior
from FLL
Date Reviewed: September 8, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Sovereign Trail - Moab | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Jim Bicycles | | Strengths: | Stiff, stiff, stiff; reasonable; solid components for the $$, bulletproof, handles quick and climbs well for the weight; excellent fit and finish and it just looks bad | | Weaknesses: | cable routing, longhorn bars | | Similar Products Used: | test trailed a Kona Stinky DeLux and Iron Horse SGS Pro; rode my friends Weyless 67 a few times(el crappo deluxe) | | Bike Setup: | flat black paint with black shadow lettering and that gr8 twins decal; stock xcept Easton DH bar and Thompson
seatpost | | Bottom Line: | This is an '04, I've had it for a couple of weeks now. It wouldn't be fair to Jim to tell you how much he disconted it but if you're ever in Pompano Beach, Florida, Jim's Bicycles is the place to shop.
This year they downgraded the shock to a straight vanilla R from an RC but I haven't missed it. They upgraded the crank set to Hussfelt 22/32 with a rock ring (if you need the big ring you probably bought the wrong bike) and the front deraileur and shifters to LX. The bash guard comes in handy.
I'm 6'4"; 195 lbs. and bought this b/c I was tearing up my Superlight at the jump park. I figured it would be a pig but handle the impacts. It sure does but what surprised me is how well it handles the trails. This pig can run. I can throw it around through the corners; not quite as quick as my Superlight but it feels like it weighs closer to 27 or 28 lbs than 35. It climbs pretty good, too. If you stay in the small ring and try to spin there is minimal bobbing especially with the Breakout reduced to the 5 in. travel setting. The rear end and frame never shake or twitch even when you change directions midway through a turn. It tracks straight until you want to go somewhere else.
When I saw the set-up: WIDE DH bars, XC length heavy duty stem and clip in pedals I figured we had a very confused marketing director. But, it hangs together amazingly well. I swapped out the 28 inch C-Dale bars for narrower Easton bars b/c I found out how much fun it was in the woods and replaced the seatpost for a 410 mm to stretch out my legs. The seat tube is full length and it has a QR so you can lower it when you get up the hill. The pedals are SH 545's and you can ride them pretty well w/o clipping in when you want to altho platforms make more sense when you are jumping. The bike is just dialed in - nicely balanced in the air and quick side to side but stable down the hill - coooooooooool.
If you upgraded carefully, this bike could easily weigh 28 lbs and stil take a beating. If the Fox Vanilla was traded for a 5th Element you would have no bob and a remarkably good, go anywhere trail bike that you can still take over big jumps.
NOW, some tips. The frame and top tube are BIG. I'm 6'4' with a 35 inch inseam and the Large frame fits well and is the same size as my Superlight XL stretched out race bike!
The cable routing does present problems and there is no easy re-route (contrary to an earlier post - all that does is move the contact points to other locations) In defense of yoyur local shop, the bikes come with the cables routed. Now, C-Dale sends 3 pads to protect the frame. Put one on the seat-tube where the cable contacts, one on the swingarm and the last on the headtube. They are flat black and blend in. There will NOT stay in place with the adhesive alone - zip tie them. Finally, restrain yourself and ride the bike on pavement and SLAM ON the brakes - HARD - from pretty fast to a complete stop 40 - 50 x's. This will set the pads and prevent the infamous Hayes noise (it that or years of driving the devils out).
Fine and fun bike now with the potential to grow with upgrades as things wear out. I'll post another review after 8 - 10 months and let you know how he wears. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
steve
a Weekend Warrior
from colo spgs co
Date Reviewed: September 4, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | capt jacks | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2300.00 | | Purchased At: | criterium | | Strengths: | stiff frame sherman breakout fox vanilla rc rims tires etc etc etc | | Weaknesses: | cable routing rubbed gouge in seat tube | | Bike Setup: | stock except m636 pedals control tech seatpost | | Bottom Line: | raced first ever downhill race and won 2nd place in my class at keystone co 4 mi downhill course!!! now i only consider myself a novice biker but i raced against everyone on dh specific bikes and think i did pretty fn good bike held up very well too no leaky fork or shock no bent rims but may consider upgrading to dh tires bike performed very well no frame flex or fork flex the more i ride it the more i like it dont buy this bike cause i might be racin u next | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ray Payne
a Weekend Warrior
from Sydney,Australia
Date Reviewed: August 31, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2100.00 | | Purchased At: | Burwood Ccycles | | Strengths: | Pretty Much everything! | | Weaknesses: | Cable routing to the back,had to change it out on the trail | | Similar Products Used: | Kona Stinky Delux | | Bike Setup: | Stock except for Gemini 1000 frame ( just for ball burnished colour ) | | Bottom Line: | Can't get better for the money, i'm big and heavy,the bike cries out for more,very stable and quick,climbs perfectly,hardly and pedal bob at the back,not too much at the front,my mates on hardtails were no where to be seen,way back..
if you've got the money,get one | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Duke Brown
a Downhiller
from Bozeman Montana
Date Reviewed: August 21, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | ALL | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Great Value
Incredible Stability at insane speed
OK component group for the cash | | Weaknesses: | The Manitou Breakout Sherman performs great but extra lame adjustments . All external adjusters broke in the first 5 rides . Again still performs well . Cable routing is weak . Beat!! eats into frame quickly . | | Similar Products Used: | Cannondale Jekyll
GT LTS and Ruckus
Jamis XLT
Specialiled FSR | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | I've Mountain Biked for over 20 years . I live in the center of Bozemans' best trails and frequent Big Sky 2-3 times a week for lift served descending on KILLER single track . I have the good fortune to ride 4-5 days a week . In looking for a new ride I tried many as I work at a shop . When the " Boyz said ," Dude ! step up !! don't buy some weakass CC bike It's 2003 , ALL About Gravity . Plus they were sure it would do the "standard rides " great . They were right !!! In the 3 months I've had this bike it has impressed me on every ride . Took it to Canada for 2 weeks of riding and as much long steady climbing as descending still the most impressive ALL AROUND bike I think one could own . The trails at BigSky are definitely not for the faint of heart and after a few days of finding the lines I'm going way too fast , too comfortably . Taking out new insurance policy for sure ......Great bike for anyone who wants 1 do everything GREAT ride | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
E
a Downhiller
from Boulder, CO, USA
Date Reviewed: August 18, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Keystone DH | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2200.00 | | Strengths: | Great fork, brakes, shock! Pretty bomber setup. | | Weaknesses: | The cable rubbing on the seat-tube and on the head-tube. | | Similar Products Used: | Giant AC-1 and AC-2 | | Bike Setup: | stock minus the platforms | | Bottom Line: | Great ride. Takes everything you can throw at it! I'm looking to upgrade the fork, cranks, wheels, and stem and add a chainguide. But if you're looking for a solid freeride/dh bike, this is the one. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kyle
a Weekend Warrior
from Boston
Date Reviewed: August 11, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | Cornering, components, great for almost any kind of riding | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | Rocky Mountain Switch, Kona Coiler | | Bottom Line: | I tried out many bikes at Pedro's fest over the weekend, but none of the freeride bikes I've tried even compare with the Gemini 900. I had the chance to test it on hardpack, mud, singletrack, jumps, and playgrounds, and it was great in every category. It climbs like a 30 lb. bike, and the tires and turning ability make you feel safe on anything. The Jamis XLT 1.0 I have is incredible, but after riding the Gemini, I wish I had bought it instead. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tom Church
a Downhiller
from Tarrytown, NY, USA
Date Reviewed: July 28, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | 909, Vassar Farms | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | 2200 | | Strengths: | -Sherman Fork
-Brakes
-Geometry
-Price
-Everything... | | Weaknesses: | The cables rub against the frame near the Pivot and will eat away at the paint and eventually the frame...I put an extra pad from my helmet there and that seems to have fixed the problem. | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | Great Geometry on this bike...I just love how it feels to ride. It's pretty good on the Uphills as well. I ride it XC a fair amount and have no problems. Putting the Sherman for in 5" makes a very large difference in climbing. I ride it DH and XC with some freeride stuff in there as well...Great all around long travel bike!
Everything about this bike rocks...Great for all types of riding except hardcore XC...You can't beat it for the price. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Warren
a Weekend Warrior
from Jonestown,PA USA
Date Reviewed: July 25, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | beaver tail | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2100.00 | | Purchased At: | IN Gear | | Strengths: | The whole bike right off the showroom floor is totally awsome.Today was the first time since last week that I got a chance to do some serious thrashing,it was awsome!! | | Weaknesses: | none that I found yet | | Similar Products Used: | 97 Trek 820,98 Cannondale F400,99 Raliegh M7000 | | Bike Setup: | stock so far | | Bottom Line: | This bike kick some serious ass!I was used to riding my raleigh and thought that was a pretty decent bike but the first ride on the Gemini down my local trail was the wildest downhill ride yet!The bike went down the widowmaker section of the hill which is covered in rocks 1 foot and bigger for about 30 yards like tere was not even any rocks there!This part of the trail always gave my riding buddies and I alot of problems(most of the time just thankful we did not get killed going through)today was the fastest and the cleanest I have ever ridden through it.The Gemini handled like a sports car and jumped over rocks like a motocross bike.If you want to really improve your riding and want to have a great time since you will be able to leave other people in the dust buy this bike | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan Atamanchuk
a Weekend Warrior
from Toronto,Ont,canada
Date Reviewed: July 10, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | none | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2100.00 | | Purchased At: | dukes | | Strengths: | fox vinilla rc | | Weaknesses: | derailer broke neeeded a new 1 & chain wasnt to happy with the mountainou so i put on sum shiver dc brakes r a little loud | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bottom Line: | upgrade the forks , swich the derailers and youll be set | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
npeter2
a Downhiller
from lake tahoe
Date Reviewed: July 10, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$2100.00 | | Strengths: | see my review near the bottom, npeter. this is a follow up. bike is working great after nearly a year of use. | | Weaknesses: | bike pedals much better w/ romic shock. get rid of the fox shock. | | Similar Products Used: | bullit, blah blah blah. the usual bikes | | Bottom Line: | some handy hints for any gemini rider. 1. wrap tape around the rear brake hose, just below the cable stop above the bottom bracket. this will keep the hose in a nice C shape, which avoids getting rubbed or cut at the swingarm pivot 2. Route the rear derailleur cable through the frame, and parallel to the shock, then just ABOVE the front derailleur. this avoids the paint rubbing issue mentioned below. some of the better cannondale shops have figured this out, and are ignoring the lame-a$$ Cannondale instructions 3. replace the cannondale stem with a real freeride stem. race face or FSA have the best 1.5 inch ones right now. 70 mm is about right for all-around use. 50 mm or less if you mostly ride downhill. 4. DON'T cut the bars down until you're sure you need to. at first I thought damn these are way too wide. but after a month of hard riding esp. lift-served on rocky terrain, i now prefer this 720 mm width. i'm tall, however. 5. the Heim chainguide is perfect for this bike--shifts well but keeps the chain on during rough downhills. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
tom
a Cross Country Rider
from philly pa usa
Date Reviewed: July 9, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2200.00 | | Purchased At: | guys bikes | | Strengths: | it goes anywhere. breakout fork is solid as hell. suspension feels great. 8 inch hayes are the shiznit. its a blast to ride, no matter what type of rider you are. | | Weaknesses: | bars are too wide for my taste, i switched to easton. the stock tires turn to crap once you hit a little mud. cable routing sucks. no bashring. | | Similar Products Used: | bike before this was specialized enduro, witch im gonna make my lite xc bike. | | Bike Setup: | stock except, ea50 bars, salsa trials bash ring with no big ring, tioga 2.3 dh tires, race face xy seatpost, odi rouge lock on grips, avid rollamajig for rear derailer | | Bottom Line: | this bike will go anywhere. biggest drop ive hit was about 6 ft. and it sucked it right up like it was nothin. then i turn around and climd steap hills like im on a light weight short travel bike. its just a blast to ride caus you can do anything on it. getting the avid roller thing for the rear improves shifting dramatically. also watch the frame right above the bottom bracket, where the rear derailer cable will actually burn a hole in your frame if your not careful. if the paint rubs off the metal is next. after all it is alluminum. i put black vinyl tape on there as a temp. fix. i love this bike. if your lookin for a hard core xc/freeride bike that can bomb rock gardens and still climb, this is it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dylan Taylor
a Weekend Warrior
from Midway
Date Reviewed: July 8, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Thieves Forest or Porcupine Rim | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2200.00 | | Purchased At: | Timpanogos Cyclery | | Strengths: | Beefy swing arm and frame, Hayes brakes, fork (once I bought a heavier spring) sweet looking bike | | Weaknesses: | Tires, they felt WAY squirrelly on the trail, grips seem thin and cheesy, deore shifters, stock spring on breakout is WAY too soft and I only weight 165, I think the rims are a little weak for a bike designed to take abuse, but we will just have to see. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek Fuel, Santa Cruz Bullit, Iron Horse SGS Pro, GT I-Drive 2.0, lots of hard tails | | Bike Setup: | chopped an inch off of each end of the bars cause they were W-I-D-E, got some Maxxis Mobster 2.5 tires, Firm spring kit in the Breakout, will probably buy a bash guard, better shifters, and rims if I need to | | Bottom Line: | Lets start in the front and work our way back. I tried all kinds of air pressures with the tires but they just felt like they were all over the place when I was riding, I think its due to the tiny, thin knobs that run along the middle of the tire so I got the Maxxis Mobsters and they feel WAY hooked up. I've had a few problems with the Breakout, the travel adjust loosened up on my first ride and quit working so that took a little fixing and the compression dampening has never worked, even with the correct oil level so I sent her back yesterday. The Manitou customer service department put me on hold TWICE for honestly a HALF HOUR so I wasn't too happy about that and they said it would take 3-5 days to get my fork fixed so we shall see. I put a firm spring kit in it before I sent it back and went a did some lift riding at Deer Valley and it rocked! I cut the bars down because they were wide, there is some cable rubbing on the head tub but what can you do. The shifters aren't the best but they work. Rims seem a little week but I'll just ride'em till they break. The brakes are working nicely, 8 inch rotors ROCK. Once I got the preload, compression and rebound dampening all dialed on the Fox RC the rear suspension felt sweet, it hooks up to every thing and flows over the nastiest stuff. All in all I think with a few minor upgrades, this is an awesome bike. Shout out to Mike Ohram, the Cannondale rep here in Utah, he totally helped me out! If you can get a hold of this bike, do it, its a great ride for a great price. It can handle the gnarliest trails, and it climbs just fine. Just stay seated and spin away. The travel adjust really comes in handy when its time to point the bike up hill. I only felt the front end start to lift off in the steepest switchbacks. It will bob when you stand up and hammer on it but I had a Trek Fuel and it would do the same thing. If you are thinking about a longer travel bike as I was, GO FOR IT! Who cares about a few extra pounds you have to push up a hill, just get out and ride and you will loose those few pounds yourself. And when it comes time to point her downhill there will be no regrets. I'm giving it 4 for value because I've had to put a little more money into it to get it to ride nice and lets face it, if bikes were cheaper we would all be happier. 5 for on overall rating though because I love this bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Big Daddy
a Racer
from Mount Airy, MD
Date Reviewed: July 7, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Frederick City Watershed | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2200.00 | | Purchased At: | Mount Airy Bicycles | | Strengths: | Very strong frame. Amazing fork. Great finish. Awesome customer service. Handles amazing. | | Weaknesses: | Very few. Components are fine expecially for price, but wear out quick, though i do weigh 260 pounds. Hey that means I can get new stuff for it. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Stock, except for lock on grips, thomson post, selle italia flight saddle, race face bash guard, and honkin Specialized 2.7" Evil Twin Roller S Works tires. | | Bottom Line: | This bike is amazing. I fly down trails that are littered with huge rocks and boulders, if any of you have ridden at gambrill or the watershed you know what i mean. It handles drops of all sorts without blinking. Anything you throw at it it swallows up. Then at the bottom I turn around and push this 34 pund bike and 260 pound self back up steep, loose, rocky climbs without dieing. This bike climbs amazing for its 6" of travel front and rear and its weight. Why everyone doesnt ride this amazes me. I even usew this for downhill racing, then do cross country rides on it instead of my 22 pound hardtail, its sooo much fun. i even race cross country on it. Get one as soon as you can. You will not be dissapointed. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Verne
a Weekend Warrior
from Pennsylvania
Date Reviewed: June 16, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1900.00 | | Purchased At: | Sicklers | | Strengths: | Bike rolls like a tank when going down. If you want it to climb, it'll climb just fine. Anyone who says it doesn't is a sissy. The fat WTB's grip well too. Breakout fork eats up just about anything that it comes across. Fox rear coil fun to play with. 12 click adjuster knobs allow for your preferred setting. My first pair of discs and I'm pretty impressed. Rear makes a little noise but I'm sure that can be remedied. Best thing is I can ride single track one day and hang out on drops the next day. The option is mine! | | Weaknesses: | Cables remove paint. Rear disc tempermental, getting weird squeals. Cranks are pretty lame/Must replace! | | Similar Products Used: | None/Had a super V prior to this. Only similarities are the company name and they're both full suspension. | | Bike Setup: | Azonic doublewalls/Raceface XY seatpost/Xtr Rear der/ODI Lockjaws(things are awesome!)All else stock, so far. | | Bottom Line: | I wanted a bike that had enough travel for my urge to drop of some nice sh^t and to get me back up the hill as well. My area has lots of ups as well as downs and this bike was a great choice for me. I'm confident enough in the suspension and the components to take a big hit and I don't sigh when I begin to climb. It obviously doesn't climb like a bottle rocket but what it lacks, it makes up for on the downs. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Pat Grier
a Cross Country Rider
from Edmonton Alberta Canada
Date Reviewed: June 6, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Edmonton River Valley | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2290.00 | | Purchased At: | River Valley Cycle Edmonton | | Strengths: | finish, price, design | | Weaknesses: | Cable housing guides are very poor, cables move and wear through paint immediately, rear derailleur cable needs help to keep it from moving out of position.
Levers rattle like trail bells. | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Azonic double wall 1.5 riser bar, salsa seatpost, 2003 LX cranks, XT cassette, 2003 STR rear derailleur, selle italia saddle thats large, time platform pedals. | | Bottom Line: | Seems good too me, but cable mounts are terrible, I'd rather not cover it in tie-wraps but what choice have I now? Needs a bash gard. Fire-x cranks do not have a good reputation.
Cannondales Canadian Rep. in Western Canada does not help buyers. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ben
a Downhiller
from Heaven
Date Reviewed: June 1, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Wompatuck | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | The Bicycle Link | | Strengths: | The Gemini has a great frame, an awesome fork, and a great rear shock. | | Weaknesses: | The pedals, although nice; not my stizzyle. | | Similar Products Used: | Your mother. | | Bike Setup: | Stock Gemini with different pedals. | | Bottom Line: | When I tried the bike, the suspension gave really well. But, there was no pedal bob (unless you stand, obviously). It's an excellent bike, with a great price. When you get the bike at first, the the discs brakes are WAY to sensitive (for me, atleast). But this can be easily fixed, no dizon't fizear. Other than the pedals, this bike is awesome. Recommend it for anyone who wants to do jumps, drops, and any other freestyle type of riding. Can EASILY handle 6ft drops. Buy it now, b i t c h. I give it a four for value, because the value would be best, for anyone, if it were FREE! Five for overall, because this bike is off the hizzerrr. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
cody
a Weekend Warrior
from san rafael
Date Reviewed: May 19, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | mikes bicycles | | Strengths: | the manitou breakout is really awsome and the six inches of rear travel fits well witht the fork.Also the brakes are soooo savage these are my first hydraulics so i doidnt know how much better the are.and it is surprisinly light at only 34-35 pounds so not only can you bomb downhill you can pedal back up it. | | Weaknesses: | the stock handel bars are a little wide and i am not sure what i will do about that, i might just leave it how it is. | | Similar Products Used: | giant warp ds1,foes weaselk2 launch 4.0 | | Bike Setup: | stock except for the clipless pedals, i swapped them for some flats | | Bottom Line: | this a great free ride bike and can handle anything you dish out, i havnt ridden it that long but so far it is awsome.i have done just a few drops like around 2.5-3 foot drops and sucks them up like nothing. i will have to see what it like going downhill but i bet it will be the plushest ride i have ever felt.so bottom line get this bike if you have the money,it is a little pricey but get it anyways you will be happy. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rod
a Cross Country Rider
from North Shore
Date Reviewed: May 10, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Strengths: | Adjustability, smooth travel, no bob, great specs, pedals well, good price | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | '03 Rocky Mtn Edge/Slayer, '03 Haro Extreme X3, AC, Switch, Stinky, Switchblade | | Bike Setup: | stock except for the Egg Beaters | | Bottom Line: | Best bike i've ever ridden. Other bikes were destroyed under my fat ass (250 lbs) but the gemini has not had one problem. Suspension is great, no bob unless standing and really mashing. can smoke my friends on all downhills and uphills on their little xc bikes. this bike takes away all fears from riding. This bike runs slightly large i think. I'm 6'4" and i have the large which seems to fit fine. What this bike excels at is to be ridden for a long time on imperfect trails. The suspension is very plush but does not hinder pedalling. Technical trails, both up and down, are a blast and even on road climbs you just remain seated and spin away. I don't think you can get a better freeride bike for the money. It really is an incredible value. The Sherman is the best ever! All around great bike, i recommend it to anyone looking for a good full suspension. Im only doing 4-5ft drops at the moment and its soaking everything up so far.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David
a Cross Country Rider
from Pasadena, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: May 9, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1800.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo | | Strengths: | The Gemini is awesome and good for hucking and 5 foot drops! The bike is lighter than it looks and feels. The fork is amazing. I've never experienced a fork this plush. The components were not too bad. I didn't care for the deore components so I upgraded to the XT level. Changed the tires to 2.7" tires. When I went to Hell Hill I didn't think I could make up the hill without bobbing. Well I was wrong, this bike climbs fast! I mean fast! Other than that, it's a great bike! Good deal too! | | Weaknesses: | the deore components, upgraded to XT | | Bottom Line: | This is a very good freeride bike. You really don't have to be a freerider to enjoy it. Not even a jumper. The frame is stiff and light! Fork is cool! This is a bike worth getting because of the price! This is good for riders who like to go up a lot and down. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kelly
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego, CA
Date Reviewed: May 8, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1800.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo | | Strengths: | Weight, components are ok, for is awesome, price, climbing capabilities, etc. | | Weaknesses: | deore components | | Similar Products Used: | 2002 Specialized Bighit Comp, and others | | Bike Setup: | stock except for upgrade | | Bottom Line: | Frogman doesn't know what the hell he's talking about! He's wrong, no question! He's an a**hole who doesn't understand the fact that every review are different from different people from different places. They're not the same, DUH! The bike is awesome! It's light and a good climber! I upgraded the deore components to XT. I also changed the tires to 3" tires. The fork is the plushest there is. Thank God that Cannondale made a bike that's light and a good climber with the best price! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
frogman
a Racer
from Truth or Consequences, NM
Date Reviewed: May 6, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Chamberlain Chutes, Col Sprgs | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Price Paid: |
$2400.00 | | Purchased At: | lbs | | Strengths: | sounds okay, except for all the bogus reviews here | | Weaknesses: | Somebody feels he has to put bogus reviews here. They are almost all by the same person. If you look, you can tell.
(look for the word "heck" or all the Exclamation! points! on every! sentence! or the mention of 35 pounds.)
Now he'll have to write different bogus reviews!
I mean "Monaco Bikes" in a French/Italian speaking country?? | | Similar Products Used: | schwinn tricycle | | Bike Setup: | two wheels instead of three, hard to balance | | Bottom Line: | Sorry for adding to the trash talking here. I hope the moderator will remove all the fake reviews based on my comments. This should be a useful info source, not a trash heap. Three campfires, to balance out the garbage, but not insult the bike, which is probably okay.
Moderator, feel free to remove this... only if you also take out all the fake super-positive reviews. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kamren
a Cross Country Rider
from Oslo, Norway
Date Reviewed: May 5, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2100.00 | | Weaknesses: | none | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | The frame is weld made and light. It's also stiff. The fork is the best and the plushest there is! The components, colors, tires, suspension, climbing capabilities, price, warranties, etc. are great! This is the best investment I've ever made on a bike. This thing really climbs man!Gemini er et helvete av en bike! The bike is lighter than it looks. It hardly bobs when you go up on a nasty uphill. The price is great! The best freeride bike you can get for the best price! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Juan
a Cross Country Rider
from Mexico City, Mexico
Date Reviewed: May 5, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1900.00 | | Strengths: | The entire bike. | | Weaknesses: | Deore components | | Bike Setup: | stock except for upgrade | | Bottom Line: | The Gemini is one heck of a bike. It has the best fork I'v ever had. It's the plushest there is. Frame's nice and stiff. The components were pretty good, colors, versatility, weight, everything. It climbs well! I didn't care for the deore components so I upgraded to XTR and XT. The price is perfect! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Donny
a Cross Country Rider
from Vancouver, BC, Canada
Date Reviewed: May 5, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Strengths: | Frame, fork, components, tires, weight, versatility, colors, pedalling efficiency, geometry, etc. | | Weaknesses: | the only problem was is that the wheelset it came with was not made for freerideing nor downhilling, was made for XC bikes only. So I bought 2003 Mavic DeeMax. | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | The Gemini is the best one I've ever had! It has the plushest fork I've ever experienced! The frame is light and stiff. This thing climbs fast and hardly bobs! The price is certainly perfect! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael D.
a Cross Country Rider
from Mission Viejo, CA
Date Reviewed: May 4, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | Frame and fork! Component mix, pedalling efficiency, weight, price, the looks, tires, etc. | | Weaknesses: | none | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | This is a great bike for a great price! I've never ridden a freeride bike that is this light with this good of pedalling efficiency! It hardly bobs! The forks is nice and plush! Frame is nice and stiff! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Manuel Esparza
a Cross Country Rider
from San Juan Capistrano, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: May 2, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1800.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo in Oceanside | | Strengths: | Everything! The weight and price of the bike is great! The components are good especially the fork! The geometry, durability, versatility, design, and capabilities of tis bike is great! Fat tires are cool! | | Weaknesses: | none | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | One heck of a bike! This thing is like having a Ferrari! This bike is the best one out there! Great price for a great bike! The Gemini is bombproof and invincible! This rig really climbs wells on the worst uphills. It hardly bobs when you pedal up, unless you stand while pedalling. FIVE CHILES, NO QUESTION!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Spencer
a Cross Country Rider
from Durango, CO, USA
Date Reviewed: April 28, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1900.00 | | Strengths: | Everything dudes! Versatility, climbing speed, pedalling efficiency, weight, price, colors, components, fat tires, and definitely the fork!!!! | | Weaknesses: | didn't care for the Deore so I upgraded to XTR and XT. | | Bike Setup: | stock except for upgrade | | Bottom Line: | Unquestionably the best ever! This thing feels secure and bullet proof! It climbs fast on ugly and nasty uphills. This bike descends perfectly on singletracks and all! The fork is pretty cool and the best I've ever experienced! Brakes are hot! The price was great and I thought this thing costs like 2600 grand. The weight of the bike is light man (only 35 pounds)! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
steve
a Weekend Warrior
from colo spgs co usa
Date Reviewed: April 23, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | jones park downhill | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2300.00 | | Purchased At: | criteriumgreat bike outta the | | Strengths: | great bike out of the box hayes 8" manitou sherman fox rc | | Weaknesses: | not enough colors to choose from but the green is kinda cool | | Bike Setup: | stock except upgraded seat post and pedals | | Bottom Line: | just bought it and still waiting to ride but sometimes you just know its right | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Roy
a
from Anaheim, CA
Date Reviewed: April 22, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1800.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo | | Strengths: | Everything man!!!!!! | | Weaknesses: | none | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | Mike Simpson (below me) is totally wrong by fact. I have absolutely no problem with anything on this bike. Brakes are great and the axel is great too. The lever are not a problem. The component mix is great and it's definitely and unquestionably a heck of a climber!!! This rig really goes up quite fast. Plus, great price! The bike has great versatility, geometry, suspension adjustability, and weight! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike Simpson
a Cross Country Rider
from Canada
Date Reviewed: April 22, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1560.00 | | Strengths: | good mix of parts, dual 8 inch rotors stock, | | Weaknesses: | fork, taking it out for a ride a few good hits and axel develops play. Manitou has had problems with new axel and has not been able to fix problem. Hayes levers rattle on desents due to a cheep lever assembly. Up hill pedaling results in major chain pull back. | | Similar Products Used: | gemini 2000, 1000. | | Bottom Line: | put some real forks on the bike and it would be awsome, it is not a climber,if you ahve the extra money the gemni 2000 comes with a romax rear shock and is well worth the upgrade. And congrats to manitou for selling forks that dont work properly. another note, some later fork might have a DIFFERNET AXEL which tames the play a bit but still will develope play later down the road. cartrige disassembly also tricky, small alloy bolt strips easily. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nate
a Cross Country Rider
from L.A., CA, USA
Date Reviewed: April 17, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1800.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo | | Strengths: | An unbelievable bike! This bike is built like a tank and is very fast on uphills! The fork, rear suspension, component mix, brakes, etc. are great! The weight and price is excellent! This is the best bike I've ever had so far! | | Weaknesses: | the deore components, not a big deal though | | Bottom Line: | Heck of a bike man! can't beat the bike with its price! This the best of all I've ever had! The frame and fork is nice and stiff! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bajernagen
a Cross Country Rider
from Croatia
Date Reviewed: April 17, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Strengths: | Everything! The frame and fork is awesome. The components are good and the brakes too are the best! This rig can really climb fast and well with hardly any bobbing. Hell of a bike! The price is good. | | Weaknesses: | none | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | Heck of a bike to have and ride on. The price is great too! I landed a five footer and it didn't bottom out. This thing is built like a tank and really climbs faster than heck! I'm very impressed with this bike. This is the best one I've ever ridden because others have bobbed quite a bit going up. The bike is lighter than most freeride bikes - it's only 35 pounds! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ruben
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: April 14, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1800.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo | | Strengths: | frame stiffness, fork, component mix, versatility, weight, uphill capability, price, color, etc. | | Weaknesses: | none | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | This is a great bike! This thing really climbs well on any uphill you can do. It goes up really fast! It hardly bobs. For is stiff and pillowy plush. Great brakes. The bike isn't that heavy for a freeride bike. the price is great!!! Most would think that this bike would cost around 3 grand.I am so impressed with this bike, I couldn't have made a better investment. I want to XC and Freeride so I needed an all around bike and this does the trick, well. It pedals very good and handles the terrain with the adjustability of the suspension. This bike is like a Tank. It takes everything you throw at it, chews it up, and spits it out!
I'm dropping 6-7 to flat and riding out fine. On previous bikes I've broken the swingarm just doing 5. It flies gracefully down any trail and jumps like a dream. Going up is good if you're determined. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Cedric Gracia
a Racer
from Paris, France
Date Reviewed: April 14, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Everything! No questions or I'll kick you arse! | | Weaknesses: | none | | Bottom Line: | It's the best one there is on this planet! Can't beat this one! Great fork, tires, rear suspension, etc. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian Dunny
a Cross Country Rider
from Monte Carlo, Monaco
Date Reviewed: April 14, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2100.00 | | Purchased At: | Monaco Bikes | | Strengths: | Versatility, geometry, components, fork, rear suspension, frame, color, price, fat tires....etc. | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | Many other freeride bikes about 13 of 'em | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | Heck of a bike! The fork is stiff and plush. Frame's stiff too. Rides on uphills well. The weight of the bike is great too. The brakes are the best I've ever had! Fatr tires works well on rocks and mud. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mik
a Cross Country Rider
from Sidney, Australia
Date Reviewed: April 14, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Black Kangaroo | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Strengths: | The bike is a great one mates!!!! The frame and fork is nice and stiff! Tires are great. Component mix is good. The versatility and weight is great. It hardly bob when you go up on a nasty uphill! | | Weaknesses: | none | | Bottom Line: | This is a heck of a bike! Great price! The best bike I've ever ridden in my life! This bike can handle up to 10 foot drops! This thing really climbs fast! Don't have to be a freerider to enjoy this bike. Fork is nice and plush. Brakes are awesome! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Graeme
a Weekend Warrior
from Glasgow, Scotland
Date Reviewed: April 12, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$3600.00 | | Purchased At: | Dales, Glasgow | | Strengths: | Good quality major components.
| | Weaknesses: | Low cost drivetrain and shifters.
Some mismatched components.
Original seatpost unable to hold saddle correctly even after local bike shop tried to adjust it. | | Similar Products Used: | Kona Stinky Primo, Specialised Enduro Pro. | | Bike Setup: | XL frame with 600 pound rear spring, RaceFace XY seatpost, Easton Culley pedals and RaceFace grips. | | Bottom Line: | Very capable all round bike.
The lightest fully coil sprung bike I could find.
Accelerates and climbs well with correct spring rate for the riders weight.
OnepointFive steerer and fork are lighter and have more clearance than twin crown on Gemini 2000.
Better value for money than other Gemini models.
Inner tubes (Continental) hold air very well (lost 2 PSI in three weeks).
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Derek
a Cross Country Rider
from Montana
Date Reviewed: April 11, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Dino Spine | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1900.00 | | Strengths: | The whole damn bike! Except for the doere components I upgraded to XT. | | Weaknesses: | deore components | | Bike Setup: | stock except for upgrade | | Bottom Line: | It's a great bike! It has no pedal bob on steep hills! The weight is great! Fork is awesome! This bike has great geometry and versatility! Got it for a heck of a price! Most would suspect this type of bike would cost around $3000! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mikkey
a Cross Country Rider
from Stockholm, Sweden
Date Reviewed: March 31, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1960.00 | | Strengths: | The frame is nice and stiff! It's well welded and has great versatility! It's light too! The component mix pretty good for the price including the fork! The fork is the best I'ver used. The brakes are awesome as well as the fat tires! This baby can really climb dudes! It hardly bobs up on nasty ugly hills! | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | 2002 Trek Diesel, 2001 Intense Tracer, 2000 Bighit, and many more. | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | Heck of a bike for a great deal man! Every once in a while I do jumps drop offs. This baby can handle up to a 10 foot drop, it is awesome dudes!!!! The whole bike is lighter than most freeride bikes, it's only about 35 pounds. It also has great suspension adjustment options on the rear shock and the fork. This is by far the best I've ever had in my life and I intend to keep this one forever unless a better Gemini comes around next year. Get this one man! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David
a Cross Country Rider
from Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Date Reviewed: March 30, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1875.00 | | Strengths: | All around. Always feels solid ans stiff, soaks up the worst bumps, feels great. This thing climbs man! It doesn't just climb, it CLIMBS. I take this up the steepest, gnarliest stuff, and it shines. And not just nasty stuff, but paved roads, jeeps roads, whatever. But this sucker goes up fast. And on the hyper-technical stuff, it rocks. Huge ledges (uphill), it oozes up, just sticks to the rock, never gets knocked off line or busts loose. Beautiful. The SHerman fork is awesome and the best I've ever used ans so are the brakes! | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | 2002 Trek Diesel | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | Sweeeet bike for a sweet price! The perfect bike. Nice fat tires and all! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joseph Eversole
a Downhiller
from Elmendorf AFB , ALASKA
Date Reviewed: March 28, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Devils pass off resurrection trail | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | the bicycle shop | | Strengths: | This bike kicks axx! Frame is rigid, haven't noticed excessive flex when dropping and counter shifting in angled drops. forks are state of the art. Soak up everything in its path. Manitou earns the right to call alot of the other products beatches. And of course just like everyone else, this bike IS a JUGGERNAUT up a hill. I'm not a hype follower, but the myth is true. Tire's give confidence in tight turns, and hold whatever line you throw at it in mud/snow. Basically this bike is a beast. The bar width is perfect, I want to know the bike is there, and that I can flatten anything in my path is need be. It's a great bike. | | Weaknesses: | Where the frick is the warranty info for the Sherman? Their website really sucks? I don't plan on anything taking a sh@t on it, but for 2k, I want accountability. Also changed the seat. After 25-30 miles of trails, and droppin hard, your axx will be kickin and your prostate will be screamin! | | Similar Products Used: | bullit
rm7/ and also some kind of giant | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | Just buy it! Put it on layaway, or the card, and get it. Stop buggin the frickin guys at the shop and grow a pair. It's a beast, drops it all. Gives you more clearance than you need, and you look bad-axx on it too. Us married guys need an extra angle to acquire one of these. Butter up the wife, slay the guts when needed, and basically tell her that it will keep you out of her business because you'll be drooling over it while drinking a beer in the garage. Oh yeah, the stopping power and shock rebound are awesome too.
Had to clean up my review 3 times. If I offended anyones girly side, well then it's time to become a man! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ronni
a Cross Country Rider
from Kentucky
Date Reviewed: March 27, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1850.00 | | Strengths: | Frame stiffness, fork, versatility, rear suspension, geometry of frame, component mix, brakes, design, weight, pedalling efficiency, awesome fat tires, heck of a price. | | Weaknesses: | none | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | Heck of a bike for a great price! This bike climbs up fast man! Fork is the best I've ever had! The bike is only 35 pounds. It has great versatility and stiffness. This thing really flies when U go down man! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Al
a Cross Country Rider
from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Date Reviewed: March 27, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | chile blanco | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1950.00 | | Strengths: | Frame is nice and stiff! The fork is the best I've ever had! It never bottoms out. It's very plush. Rear suspension is great. Component mix is not too bad. Although I upgraded the shifters and front derailleurs to XT. Pedalling Efficiency is great! It hardly bobs when you go up on a steep uphill!!!! Brakes are cool and the best! | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | 2001 RM9 | | Bike Setup: | stoc except for upgrade | | Bottom Line: | A hell of a bike for a good price! It actually looks heavier than it is. But it's only 35 pounds! It climbs up fast and efficiently. This bike is perfect for all mtn. bikers. This thing can handle up to ten foot drops! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andy
a
from Huntington, NY USA
Date Reviewed: March 27, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | ANY | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1750.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Junkie Bethpage, NY | | Strengths: | Manitou Sherman, Hayes 8" Hydralic brakes, Fox shock | | Weaknesses: | Thin seatpost, break rub, Deore shifters. | | Similar Products Used: | Intense Tracer | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | I was never a fan of Canondale until this bike I found the bike handles climbs and tight single track surprisingly well.It makes you want to take risks that you would never think of. For the money you can't beat it. I recomend this bike for anyone who is looking for a trailbike that has the ability to roll over anything. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Stoo Goss
a Weekend Warrior
from Cambridge UK
Date Reviewed: March 27, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | 9 ft Afan Agoed, Wales. | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2150.00 | | Purchased At: | Leisure Lakes, Daventry, UK | | Strengths: | Sherman fork is fantastic!! still haven't bottomed it out.
Hayes 8' rotor brakes. Sharp as f*ck. | | Weaknesses: | Sounds wierd but the seatpost is a bit on the skinny side. I can feel it flex. | | Similar Products Used: | Marin B17, Custom Identiti, Heavy tools. | | Bike Setup: | Stock. Will change tyres soon. | | Bottom Line: | Fantastic bike! Roles surprisingly well, not too much peddle feed back. Inspires confidence (perhaps too much so, I think I might end up trying something a bit beyond me.but hey why not?)
The brakes are great, I've noticed a touch of brake rub but they're still pretty new I 'spose so I'll let them off.
I comes with a richey seat post which seems incredibly thin, I can't understand why this was specced I know I'm gonna bend it sooner or later, just hope it doesn't effect the frame when it goes. The forks are the most impressive component on the bike 6' travel with a single crown. Nice.
The travel limiter is a nice touch as well. Paint job is pretty good or though poor cable rooting is starting to take its toll in rubbing off some paint. Tyres are OK, I won't be getting another set. I'll probably go back to tioga's.
Over all, a fantastic bike considerably lighter than my B17 with more travel and climbs pretty damn well. Drops are taken with ease, the bike is extremely well balanced and is great at speed! Top banana overall!!! Can't wait to get it back to Wales and get some proper miles under its belt.
Oh, one last thing! how come my Gemini cost roughly the same in UK £ as it does US $? Bloody UK prices!
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jon
a Cross Country Rider
from Julian, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: March 26, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1800.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo in Oceanside | | Strengths: | frame stiffness, fork, component mix, fat tires, color, weight is good, fork is awesome, etc. | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | 2001 Turner 5 spot | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | Great bike for a great price! Its much lighter than most freeride bikes! It climbs well and fast! Fat Tires are great especially in rocks and mud. Fork is the best I've ever had. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jake
a Cross Country Rider
from Irvine, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: March 26, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Luge | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1800.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo | | Strengths: | frame stiffness, fork, rear suspension, colors and design, component mix, brakes are awesome, weight is not so bad, and pedalling efficiency. | | Weaknesses: | didn't care for the deore front derailleur so I upgraded it to an XT. | | Similar Products Used: | 2001 bighit, 2000 Uzzi SLX | | Bike Setup: | stock, except for the upgrade. | | Bottom Line: | It's a hell of a bike for a hell of a price! Surprisingly, the bike rides well on uphills! It hardly bobs. The weight is great! It actually looks heavier than it is. Fat tires are great! You can make a 10 foot drop with this man! I don't jumps very often. It rides well down the luge and rock-it. It rolls down and absorbs every bump. this the best bike I've come across. It's way better than the other ones I've had. This thing climbs fast! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Lou
a Weekend Warrior
from Philly
Date Reviewed: March 12, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Slickrock Moab or A-Line Whistler | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | Guy's Bensalem, PA | | Strengths: | excellent bike out of box. handles anything you dish out, maybe except hardcore downhill. I ride XC with my crew and they are amazed, especially when I huck some stuff. I keep right up with them and they are starting to believe. I can not say enough about this bike! It climbs like a dream, you just need to pedal harder, and going down is f-ing sick. I have to wait at bottom for the crew and usually stuff 1 or 2 of them on the way down. HA! SUPER HAPPY WITH THIS RIDE. And it is made in my home state of good ole' PENNSYLVANIA! | | Weaknesses: | None so far | | Similar Products Used: | VooDoo Canzo, Turner RFX | | Bike Setup: | stock except RaceFace Diabolus stem (looks trick plus you don't tear your knee apart) Chris King Hubs replaced Coda (they were kind of weak) Oury grips, definitely will replace drivetrain with XT/XTR when I wear stock out | | Bottom Line: | If you are hardcore XC, you need to re-think and move forward and believe and try this thing. You can still XC but bike has ability to let you push your limits very far. DON'T BE AFRAID TO TAKE SOME HITS!! Moving up to this is like going from ridgid to front fork, to full suspension. THis is the next step. JUST DO IT! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tom
a Cross Country Rider
from Lake Forest, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: March 11, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Rocki-it | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1800.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo | | Strengths: | Frame geometry, versatility, stiffness, weight, component mix, fork is great, color design and colors, cool tires, good suspension options, brakes, etc. | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | 2001 UZZI SL | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | Great bike for a great price! The weight of the bike is lighter than it looks! The brakes are very powerful and smooth! It climbs very well. It hardly bobs on steep uphills! It helps you climb uphill faster and more fun! Fork is the best I've ever had in my life!!!! Like any single-pivot, the rear end skips some in chatter bump braking. Overall though it rides as well or better than any single pivot i've been on, and better than some linkage bikes. Beefy pivot bearing is well-protected from dirt/water with extra caps! Seriously this bike is for all levels of mtn. bikers.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dug
a Cross Country Rider
from PG, UT
Date Reviewed: December 3, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Gold Bar Rim, Moab | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | Timpanogos Cyclery, PG, UT | | Strengths: | All around. Always feels solid, drops anything, soaks up the worst bumps, feels great. And the kicker is, this thing climbs. It doesn't just climb, it CLIMBS. I take this up the steepest, gnarliest stuff, and it shines. And not just nasty stuff, but paved roads, jeeps roads, whatever. Does it climb a paved road as well as a 21 lb hardtail? Should you race it in a hill climb? No. But this sucker goes up just fine. And on the hyper-technical stuff, it rocks. Huge ledges (uphill), it oozes up, just sticks to the rock, never gets knocked off line or busts loose. Beautiful. | | Weaknesses: | You won't win the Snowbird Hillclimb race with it. Oh no. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Enduro Pro, Kona Stinky Deluxe | | Bike Setup: | Except for pedals (I like Eggbeaters), totally stock. And it works, all of it. I used to customize everything. But why? Stuff is so good these days, that stock is good enough, and way cheaper. | | Bottom Line: | I love this bike. It is the best MT bike I've ever owned, bar none. I was worried it wouldn't climb the steep technical singletrack of the Wasatch in Utah, but it climbs Better, not worse. Notice, I didn't say faster, but I did say Better. It goes up the technical better, and it goes down the technical better. Except for when you're hefting the bike onto your roof rack, you won't even notice the weight. Seriously. The most telling ride was when we rode Up Porcupine Rim backwards, then came back down. This bike does Both better. Am I just babbling now? I can't help it. I love this bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
npeter
a
from SoCal
Date Reviewed: November 18, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | 2100 | | Strengths: | value fer money, plush travel but climbs well, comes w/ sherman breakout fork, 8 inch front/rear Hayes, | | Weaknesses: | XC-style cannondale stem (got rid of it right away). rear derailleur cable needs to be routed thru upper shock mount and just above front derailleur (the Cannondale-recommended routing causes cable housing to get destroyed by swingarm). | | Similar Products Used: | SC Bullit, Ellsworth Joker, Intense SLX, others | | Bike Setup: | upgraded to full XT drivetrain, Race FAce Diabolus stem, Thomson seat post, and Romic T2 shock | | Bottom Line: | i dig this bike. like a lot of cannondale-hatas out there i never though i'd get a cannondale freeride bike, but after looking around i got a gemini even though i had planned to spend more $$$$$. Romic shock is a highly recommended upgrade--my LBS gave me $175 for the Fox, then I got the Romic factory direct for a good price---makes the bike pedal much more efficiently. the frame is somewhere in between a Joker and a Bullit in weight, and geometry is roughly similar. Bullit rear swingarm uses bent tubing which rubs my calves and gets annoying. Cannondale and Ellsworth use a better engineered (and more expensive to build) rear swingarm design that manages to be lighter and at least as stiff, and doesn't get in the way like the Bullit's. 1.5 headtube allows you to just swap the inner bearings to go to 1 1/8 inch if you want. However the Manitou Breakout is working so well I may never need to.
Other than upgrading the cogset and cranks and seatpost (for very little extra charge) and gettign a 70 mm RF Diabolus stem, it's stock. I paid $40 to have the wheels hand rebuilt; they're working well, lots of miles on them.
In the summer I was riding Mammoth and Big Bear lift-served trails, and regular XC type rides w/ rocky descents. Recently did a 20 mile / 3,000 vertical foot climb/descent ride in 2.5 hours; the bike climbs surprisingly well, esp. on loose rock etc. Next spring I'm buying a tubeless DH wheelset w/ DH tires so I can switch back and forth depending on what I'm riding that day.
Some Gemini frames had incorrect downtube diameter. Local cannondale shop checked mine out, it was in spec. Some anti-cannondale idiots are trying to use this against the Gemini, when in fact all it illustrates is that Cannondale is doing the right thing by replacing those frames before anyone even has the chance to break 'em and complain.
lateral rigidity is right on, and bike carves turns well as a result. for jumping i sometimes run the Romic shock in the 6 inch travel position, since it gives it a nice progressive rate that avoids bottoming out. Mostly i ride it in the 7 inch, more linear-feeling position.
bike, size Large, weighs around 34-35 lbs., pretty good for a stiff bike w/ 7 inch/6 inch f/r travel. Romic has titanium spring avail soon to cut off more weight.
the front triangle is a good design. i can raise/lower seat height all i want, and the dual top tube design is stiff, strong, and give excellent standover clearance.
for more downhilling type applications i might put on a floating rear disc brake. other than that though this bike is good for all the riding I do. MBA mag, nsmb.com, and feedthehabit.com have given strong reviews, and I agree, this bike is a blast to ride. I was going to spend 3.5K on an ellsworth or intense, but i have no regrets about getting this gemini.
like any single-pivot, the rear end skips some in chatter bump braking. overall tho it rides as well or better than any single pivot i've been on, and better than some linkage bikes. beefy pivot bearing is well-protected from dirt/water with extra caps.
my overall rating is for the romic equipped bike. w/ the Fox, the bike descends okay but doesn't pedal up hills as well. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steve Barrieault
a
from Bristol Ct USA
Date Reviewed: November 18, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Portland | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2200.00 | | Purchased At: | Bikers Edge | | Strengths: | This bike is the shiznit. If you want a bike that you can free ride, go downhilling or take on a XC ride even though its 35 lbs you can still spin the cranks with ease. The Sherman is FANTASTIC lots of adjustable travel front and rear, and plenty of stopping power 8 in hayes front and rear. | | Weaknesses: | Did not like the idea that Cannondale mixed the drive train. Keep it all Shimano or all Sram, the bike came with XT rear der, Sram casset,Shimano chain. For the best in shifting performance stick with all of the same brand. | | Bike Setup: | swapped out the rear der and casset for XTR der XT casset and swapped stock LX shifters for XT | | Bottom Line: | You cant go wrong with this bike its a pleasure to ride. If you have the opportunity to demo or take someone elses bike for a spin do it. Try some drops with it or take it for a climb, you will be supprised at the versatility of this bike. As for the dent in your wallet this bike sells for around 2,200.00 and for that price its well worth it. For the person who cant afford that all at once save your pennies because this bike should be around for a while and its worth it save maybe get the next years model. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
| |
|
Photo Caption Contest
(sponsored by Maxxis)
|
Enter here
|
|
|
$ 2199.99
